Red Rose and Tiger Lily; Or, In a Wider World by L. T. Meade (top ten books to read txt) 📗
- Author: L. T. Meade
Book online «Red Rose and Tiger Lily; Or, In a Wider World by L. T. Meade (top ten books to read txt) 📗». Author L. T. Meade
Annie presently laid her head on her pillow and went to sleep.
When she awoke in the morning she still thought an appeal to the pawnbroker the only available solution of her difficulty. The girls were much excited about their gay shopping, and the landau was ordered to be round at an early hour to convey Hester, Nan, Molly, and Annie to Nortonbury. Nora had to resign herself to the company of her nurse, but her thoughts were so full of pleasurable anticipations that under the circumstances she did not mind the loss of her favourite Annie.
Before starting, Annie ran quickly round to Mrs. Martin's rooms.
"Here I am," she exclaimed in her bright way. "I have just rushed up to say good morning to you before we start. You have heard of all the fun that we are going to have, haven't you, nursey?"
"Folly, I call it," said nurse. "Throwing away good money on fallals and wings and clouds. Miss [Pg 122]Nan was up here last night so late that I thought I'd never get her to bed, bamboozling me with stories of all the children round the country being turned into fairies, which you know, Miss Annie, is sheer nonsense and impossible to do, and Miss Nora, who has narrowly escaped her death, is to lie on rose leaves with clouds under her. The folly of it is beyond belief, even if it can be done, which I sincerely hope it can't. In old days people took their pleasures properly. Children were kept in the nursery and were sent early to bed, and young ladies were presented to her Gracious Majesty the Queen, and then went to balls in good stiff silks and no wings nor clouds about 'em. They met the gentlemen they were to marry at the balls, and then there was a proper wedding breakfast and all the rest, as it should be. I don't hold with the scarum days of the present."
"Look here, nursey," exclaimed Annie, "the fairies will look lovely, and I'll show you myself how innocent and simple the clouds are, and as to the wings, I'll make a pair for you if you like."
"No, thank you, Miss Annie, I hope I know what's due to myself."
"Well, I must run away," continued Annie. "You know we're just off to Nortonbury."
"So I hear, miss."
"It was to Nortonbury you went when you sold my ring; you were a dear to do it."
"I wouldn't do it for no one else, miss, and I don't know even now how I came to demean myself by such a job."
"Was," said Annie in an almost trembling voice, "was the uncle very disagreeable, then?"
[Pg 123]
"Miss Forest, such a word oughtn't to pass your lips."
"Why so, nurse? I cannot imagine why you dislike such helpful people."
"We won't argue the point," said nurse; "the subject is not suited to the young."
Annie fidgeted. Nan's voice was heard down stairs shouting for her.
"Nurse," she said in sudden desperation, "I want to get the ring back; tell me the name of the uncle."
A look of relief came over Mrs. Martin's face.
"I'd be glad if you had that valuable ring again," she said. "Have you got the money for it? It would be thirty-two shillings; thirty shillings for the loan and two shillings interest."
"Annie, we're all waiting," shouted Nan.
"Oh, do tell me the address," said Annie.
"You had better let me get the ring out of pawn for you, miss."
"No, no, I must get it to-day."
"Have you got the money, Miss Forest?"
"What would be the use of going if I hadn't?" prevaricated Annie.
"Well, but you're not going to take my young ladies to a pawnbroker's?"
"No, I promise not to take any of them; I'll go alone, quite alone. You may trust me, really. Oh, nursey, nursey, I'm in such trouble."
Again the bright lovely eyes and sweet voice did their work.
Mrs. Martin fumbled for her keys, and taking a small piece of blue paper out of her work-box, put it into Annie's hand.
"There," she said. "I'm sorry I ever made or [Pg 124]meddled with this thing. Mind you don't take one of my young ladies with you."
"I promise," said Annie. She thrust the paper into her pocket and rushed from the room.
CHAPTER XIV. POOR MRS. MYRTLE.The girls spent a busy morning in Nortonbury, and if Annie had any care on her mind she certainly did not show it. She was a splendid girl to go shopping with. She could make up her mind quickly with regard to the exact material she required. Her choice was practically made before she entered a shop, her taste in colour and texture was excellent, and with her to guide them, Hester and Molly got through their business with great celerity. Many parcels were piled up on the front seat of the landau, but work as they would, the girls could not get through their necessary shopping in the morning. Hester therefore determined to lunch at a restaurant which she knew well, and to finish buying the rest of the materials for the fancy dresses before they returned to the Grange. It was while they were at lunch that Annie seized the opportunity to secure a few moments to herself. She had not yet had time even to glance at the address which nurse had given her on the little slip of blue paper. But it was now or never, if she were to seek the pawnbroker without the others discovering where she was going.
[Pg 125]
Hester had ordered a very tempting lunch, and Nan was attacking her nicely roasted chicken and bread sauce with appetite, when Annie, snatching up a sandwich, sprang suddenly to her feet.
"I'm not hungry," she exclaimed, "and as there is so much to be done, I won't waste time eating. Mrs. Willis wrote to me yesterday and asked me to send her a small parcel. It contains a ring which she lent me, and as it ought to be registered, I will go to the post-office now and get it done while you are at lunch."
"But you really must eat something first," exclaimed Hester. "You will be ill if you don't; the carriage is to call for us in a few minutes, and you may just as well drive to the post-office in it; you would do it in half the time."
"But I would rather walk," replied Annie. "I am perfectly sick of driving. I see by Nan's face that lunch will be quite an affair of half an hour, and I'll be back long before then."
She left the shop before Hester had time to remonstrate, and the next moment found herself in the street.
"Now for it," she exclaimed, a little catch of excitement in her breath. She took out her purse, opened it, and removing the slip of blue paper, looked at the words written on it. The address rather surprised her. It was a fancy goods shop, and was kept by a woman of the name of Myrtle.
"Haberdashery and Fancy Goods Warehouse,
"30, Eden Street,"
was the address on the sheet of paper.
[Pg 126]
Annie had never in the course of her life come in contact with a live pawnbroker, but she had a vague idea that pawnbrokers were of the male species, and that they invariably had three gilt balls over their establishments.
She was relieved rather than otherwise to find that this pawnbroker was of the female sex, and fancied that it would be easier to deal with her on this account. A policeman directed her to Eden Street, which was a thoroughly respectable broad thoroughfare off the High Street.
Annie walked quickly until she came to number thirty. Then, raising her eyes and seeing Mrs. Myrtle's name over the door, she boldly entered. The shop was the sort that ladies delight in. One side of it was entirely devoted to the best class of haberdashery, the other was extremely attractive with coloured wools and silks, and all sorts of materials for crewel and other fancy works. A thin, pale girl, of about sixteen, was attending to the haberdashery department, and a little old lady, with pink cheeks, bright dark eyes and white hair, was busily serving several customers at the fancy goods side.
Annie had to wait until these customers had completed their business. The girl who had charge of the haberdashery asked if she could serve her.
"I wish to speak to Mrs. Myrtle," replied Annie in a decided tone. The little woman raised her head at hearing her own name pronounced, and said in a respectful voice—
"I'll be at leisure to serve you in a moment, miss."
"She seems very nice," said Annie to herself; "she has a decidedly kind face. What can there be objectionable in pawnbrokers, if she is one? [Pg 127]Perhaps I'd better call her aunt; she'll be sure to like it."
In a couple of moments Mrs. Myrtle was at leisure, and Annie went up to the counter. Now that the critical instant had come, she felt her heart beating quickly, and knew that her cheeks were pale. Annie could look wonderfully pathetic when any emotion stirred her. She had a voice full of vibrations, and her eyes could assume the dumb pleading expression of a dog's.
"I want to speak to you about a very private matter," she said, looking full at Mrs. Myrtle.
The little woman could not help giving her a glance of great surprise. What could such a pretty, nicely-dressed young lady want with her; then suddenly it flashed through her mind that Annie must want to buy a present; perhaps the present was for her sweetheart; if so, the state of affairs was perfectly natural.
"Yes, miss," she said, in a cordial voice of sympathy, "but Netty, my niece, is a bit deaf and won't hear a word you're saying. I have got some really nice things, miss, and quite suitable; tobacco pouches made of different coloured plushes, and flowers traced very beautifully on them; you could work the pouch yourself, miss, and it would look most suitable; then I've got braces, too; they're quite the newest thing, and can be embroidered with any colour, and cases for gentlemen's evening ties, they really are very new; shall I show you some, miss?"
"Oh, no, thank you," said Annie in a choking voice. "I'm in an awful hurry and I don't want to buy any present for a gentleman; I don't know any gentleman except my father well enough to think of giving [Pg 128]presents to. No, no, I don't want to buy anything, but I want—I want you to give me something, aunt."
Mrs. Myrtle looked at Annie as if she were now quite sure that the poor pretty young lady was not quite right in her head. She did not speak at all, but waited for Annie to continue.
"You're a female pawnbroker, are you not?" said Annie.
"A female what, my dear?" said Mrs. Myrtle, her face growing crimson. This was really the last straw. "I don't understand you, miss," she said in a stiff tone. "I have nothing whatever to do with the trade you indicate."
Just then some ladies, very good
Comments (0)